CHAPTER FIVE

 

LILIAN

“What else?” I asked, switching my gaze between Dad and Fiona.

Dad’s phone began ringing before he could answer. He glanced at the screen, then he stepped away. “You’ll know after your lectures today,” he said, leaving me with more questions than answers.

“Dad, can I drive the Cybertruck?” Fiona called after him. “Everyone at school knows I’m Mr Williams’s daughter, and I want to show it.”

Dad glanced back at her and nodded.

Fiona squealed and hurried toward the garage.

I watched her disappear before grabbing my bag. There was no point standing around waiting for Dad to explain himself when he had already made up his mind.

I walked outside and booked a cab.

The car I had given Michael last year wasn't actually one I'd bought for him. It was the car Dad had given me, and I'd handed it over after Michael wouldn't stop nagging me about wanting it.

I leaned against the cab window as we drove away. The receipt and ownership documents were still in my name because I had never transferred the car to Michael, no matter how many times he'd asked me to.

At least I could get it back.

By the time I reached campus, the whispers had already started.

“Fattie.”

I kept walking.

“Fattie,” another student called.

My fingers tightened around my bag strap, but I didn't turn around.

Then Michael walked into the lecture hall.

His face darkened when he saw me, but he said nothing as he walked past. My eyes followed him for a second before I forced them back to my desk.

“You dumped him, so why are you still staring?” someone shouted.

Laughter erupted around me.

I lowered my eyes to my notebook and pretended to write.

Outside the lecture hall, Fiona was surrounded by students from our department. The Cybertruck was parked near the entrance, and students crowded around it with their phones raised.

“She can't get over Michael,” someone said.

Fiona laughed.

Then another student asked, “What you said about Lilian serving your father—is that actually true?”

Fiona's smile widened. “Yes, it is. You can ask her yourself.”

“So you mean all those gifts she gave Michael were actually stolen?”

Fiona tilted her head. “My father owns so many things that he doesn't keep track of everything, but my family is kind to her, so that's why she gets things.”

“Aww,” someone replied. “We know Mr. Williams is a nice man.”

I stood nearby, listening to every word.

My nails dug into my palm, but I kept my face blank. Whatever they wanted to believe, I wasn't going to stand there and defend myself to people who had already made up their minds.

A few hours later, Professor Lydia dismissed us.

I packed my books and followed the other students out of the lecture hall. Practice was starting soon, and I decided to head to the rink.

I had barely stepped through the doorway when someone shoved my shoulder.

My foot slipped.

I reached for the wall, but my fingers caught nothing.

A hand wrapped around my waist before I hit the floor.

I looked up.

Alex.

His arm tightened around me, keeping me upright.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded, but my heart was beating too fast.

Then I looked past him.

Chelsea stood a few steps away, her hockey bag hanging from her shoulder.

Alex's ex-girlfriend.

Her eyes moved from his arm around my waist to my face.

A cold smile tugged at her lips.

“Watch where you're going,” she said coldly.

The sound of skates scraping against the ice reached me before I even entered the rink. I found a seat near the rink and sat down, my eyes searching across the players.

Then I saw Alex.

He was already skating across the ice, his stick guiding the puck as he moved between his teammates. He accelerated toward the net, pulled the puck to one side, and fired.

The puck hit the back of the net.

The players shouted, and I jumped to my feet.

“Go, Alex!”

Alex turned toward the stands.

His eyes found mine.

My cheeks warmed, but I couldn't stop smiling as I clapped for him. For the first time all day, I forgot about the whispers, the messages, and everything waiting for me at home.

Then someone beside me started cheering.

“Go, Alex!”

My smile disappeared.

I turned and found Fiona standing beside me.

She had her hands cupped around her mouth as she cheered. Her eyes were fixed on Alex.

“Come on, Alex!” she shouted.

I looked back at the ice.

Alex continued skating.

He stole the puck from one of the Westbrook Ravens players and sent it across the ice to a teammate. The crowd erupted again as the Williams Hockey Club pushed forward.

I found myself cheering with them.

Alex glanced toward the stands.

The whistle blew, and the players regrouped. The competition between the Williams Hockey Club and the Westbrook Ravens had become more intense with every minute.

John skated onto the ice.

Alex spotted him.

John spotted Alex.

Neither of them looked away.

The puck dropped.

Alex reached it first and sped down the ice. John followed close behind, his skates cutting sharply across the surface as he closed the distance.

“Come on, Alex!” I shouted.

Alex shifted the puck to his other side and tried to skate around him.

John moved into his path.

Their bodies collided.

Alex lost his balance.

He crashed onto the ice.

My hands flew to my mouth.

The rink went strangely quiet around me as Alex lay motionless for a moment.

When he finally lifted his head, a thin line of blood ran from a cut above his eyebrow.

“Alex!”

I rushed toward the edge of the rink.

John was already standing over him.

“It’s just practice. Let’s go,” I said.

I helped Alex into his car and reached for the driver's door.

“I'll drive,” I said, glancing at the blood running down his face. “You're badly injured.”

Alex stared at me, his breathing ragged as more blood slipped from his nose.

I started the car.

A few minutes later, I pulled over and turned toward him.

“Hold still.”

I tore a piece from the bottom of my shirt and pressed it gently against his nose.

His fingers closed around my wrist.

I froze.

I looked at him.

Before I could ask what he was doing, Alex pulled me closer.

His lips hovered dangerously close to mine.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

“Stay like this for a moment,” he murmured.

His breath brushed against my lips, and neither of us moved.